When the Ohio-Michigan War was resolved in 1835 with the awarding of the border territory to the state of Ohio, Lucas County was born. At that moment, the government of Lucas County, the appointment of county commissioners and the establishment of a Court of Common Pleas, came into being. With the establishment of the Court came, of necessity, the appointment of a Prosecutor to bring all legal actions on behalf of the County of Lucas. That individual was our very first Lucas County Prosecutor, Andrew Coffinberry.

Andrew Coffinberry was born in the new state of Virginia in 1788, of German grandparents. He moved to Ohio as a young child and grew up in Chillicothe, Lancaster and Mansfield, finally moving to Perrysburg, Ohio in 1836, shortly after being appointed Lucas County Prosecutor.

What was the reason for an "outsider" being named the very first Prosecutor of Lucas County? The answer is quite simple. Coffinberry, who had only three MONTHS of formal education, had read the law and had served as legal counsel to then Governor Robert Lucas during the border war between the State of Ohio and the Michigan Territory in 1835. For this loyal service, he was awarded with the appointment as Prosecutor. For your information, Coffinberry was paid all of $15 for handling his first two cases as Prosecutor.

Our first Prosecutor was distinguished by his noble or "countlike" bearing. Hence, he was known as the "Count" to his contemporaries. The historian Harvey Scribner wrote of the Count 60 years after his death: "Count Coffinberry was a tall, slender, and very elegant appearing gentleman. He was an exquisite dresser and spared no expense in having his wardrobe in a portmanteau in his saddlebags. Before he would get to his destination the mud would play havoc with his fine clothes... but when he reached the end of his trip he would go to his room in the tavern, fish out another suit, and come down to the office as fresh as a daisy." (Scribner at p. 376).

It is said that he continued an active practice of litigation in the courts of Ohio until his death in Findlay, Ohio in 1856, at age 68, quite a venerable age for that time. It is said of Coffinberry, that "he was not only an excellent lawyer, an honest, honorable man, but a great hearted, genial gentleman as well." (Scribner at p. 377).

In addition to the unique position he holds as the very first Lucas County Prosecutor, Coffinberry also enjoys the distinction of being the only Prosecutor whose child also became Lucas County Prosecutor. James M. Coffinberry, his son, was elected the 5th Lucas County Prosecutor in 1843, a mere 8 years after his father.